Category: Health & Lifestyles
Birth Announcements, Engagement Announcements, Feature stories and photos about local residents in Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot/Moore areas. Also special features on the latest research and healthcare trends.
Lytle Santa Parade always a big hit!
This beautiful home is one of many lighting up the City of Lytle during the big Christmas parade last Saturday.
Wreaths Across America Day ceremony in Devine
Grandson Robbie Brown was honored to place a wreath on his grandpa Robert Bee Browns grave at the WAA ceremony He enjoyed taking some photos as well
On Dec. 14 in the Evergreen Cemetery, the Current Events Club worked with Medina County to honor veterans.
People from around Devine gathered to honor America’s veterans, with wreaths laid down on service members’ graves.
Gary Saathoff, a veteran and member of VFW Post 3966 gave a brief history of the Wreaths Across America, an organization that began in 1992 when the owner of a Maine wreath company donated extra wreaths to be placed on graves in the older sections of Arlington National Cemetery.
This simple way to honor troops gained national attention in 2005 when a photo of the beautiful wreaths on the marble headstones began circulating the internet. Since that point, Wreaths Across America has been a national organization, encouraging Americans to remember the sacrifices of those who were so willing to sacrifice everything for their country.
Now, for the past three years, citizens of the Devine area have gathered to carry on this tradition.
Our Arabians and Devine NHS students helped out at Wreaths Across America
Placing a wreath on her great grandpa’s grave a WW1 Navy Veteran is Kyrie DuBose one of the many DHS student helping out at the Wreaths Across America Ceremony last Saturday in Devine
Heart Gallery traveling around Devine, Lytle and Natalia…
In just a few short days, we are so happy to report that there have been mutliple families who have reached out to possibly adopt some of the children featured in the Heart Galleries around Devine, Natalia, and Lytle. If you would like to host a few Heart Gallery photos this JANUARY (which increases a child’s chances of adoption by 60% according to statistics), please reach out to The Devine News and let us know!
Also let us know if you would like to volunteer and help with this effort, moving the displays to different locations next month. Ask for Kayleen at The Devine News 830-665-2211 or come by and see us on Monday.
Local businesses, churches, organizations have made a huge impact already!
By Kayleen Holder
Huge THANK YOU to all of these churches, local businesses, and organizations for displaying photos of kiddos in the South Texas Heart Gallery for December! Y’all are the best!!! Already, we have seen a huge impact, with at least two local families starting the adoption process!
Please let me know if you are interested in displaying some of these photos of kids for adoption this January at your business!
Heart Gallery photos of children waiting for adoption are displayed at the following locations this December:
Brown Dodge
Chaparral Ford
Brown Chevy
Devine VFW
St John Bosco Catholic Church
First Baptist of Natalia
Black Creek Baptist Church
Lytle Methodist Church
City of Devine
Devine PD
Devine ISD Special Education Office
and to anyone else who wants to join in on this awesome effort to help kids find the loving homes that they deserve!!
Continue reading “Heart Gallery traveling around Devine, Lytle and Natalia…”
Students brainstorm ideas for prosthetic limbs,starting with “Pongo”
By Kayleen Holder
Editor
A simple definition of engineering is “the application of science and math to solve problems,” and that’s exactly what this group of bright, young engineers are doing, putting that definition into action.
Devine High School engineering students only stopped to take a quick photo while brainstorming ideas in class last Friday as they made plans on the best way to build a prosthetic leg for Pongo, a golden retriever who recently lost a leg.
Within just a few minutes, this team of up and coming leaders were already discussing ideas for inventing a better and more flexible prosthetic limb as opposed to what’s on the market already… creating something “that’s never been done before.”
This project may be starting small, with one lucky dog, but imagine the impact a development like this could have for others who rely on a prosthetic limb. Approximately 1.7 million people in the United States use a prosthetic limb.
As I watched this session, and listened to their ideas, I found the compassion and ambition of these young students to be very inspiring. They each contributed different thoughts and angles to consider.
An initiative by the U.S. Department of Education states “In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it’s more important than ever…
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Continue reading “Students brainstorm ideas for prosthetic limbs,starting with “Pongo””
Lytle author publishes first children’s book
By Catherine Richard
Lytle blogger, lab technician and mother of three will be at Shops of Lytle from 2-5 p.m. on Dec. 21 to sign her first published children’s book.
The book, which is titled “Would You Rather Bible Water Adventure,” is bilingual, with the story written in English, followed by the Spanish translation.
This is the realization of a longtime dream for Jerah Alvarado, who has always wanted to work with books, either as a librarian or a writer.
Now, Alvarado is combining two of her greatest passions in her first book series: her faith and the Spanish language.
Growing up in a bilingual household, Alvarado would alternate between speaking Spanish with her mother and English with her father. Through the years, she has come to count her upbringing as a blessing.
“It is a privilege to be bilingual,” Alvarado said. “It’s an important skill and it allows you to connect with more people.”
Now, Alvarado is hoping to share that experience with other families, who can practice reading and speaking Spanish while exploring timeless Bible stories.
She was inspired to create this book by her second daughter, who struggled to concentrate on normal children’s books. In “Would You Rather,” readers get to choose between different Bible water adventures, whether it is the story of Moses on the Nile River or the story of Jonah in the belly of a whale.
Between the bright illustrations and different stories, Alvarado aims to create a book that children will interact with and get invested in.
Despite this book being her first published work, Alvarado has been writing and creating for years.
In 2018, she started her book blog, which is called “Faith and Books”, or FAB for short. FAB has been Alvarado’s space to review books and write about faith and family. It was around this time that Alvarado also began “learning the craft,” attending writing conferences and meeting agents.
While seeking to publish this book, Alvarado connected with Mt. Zion Ridge Press. Mt. Zion Ridge Press was interested in creating bilingual books and found a perfect match in Alvarado, offering her a three-book contract and appointing her as their official translator.
“I think I started crying,” Alvarado said, “I was so happy.”
Alvarado is currently writing the next two installments of her series, while raising her daughters with her husband Robert, “surviving on coffee and thriving on grace.”
Her book is available on Amazon and she can be contacted through https://www.jerahalvarado.com/. She can also be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jerahwrites/ and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJerah.
Kirk family asks for prayers as Jett fights hard in the ICU
The family of little Jett Kirk, 7 years old of Natalia, is asking for prayers as Jett is fighting hard in the ICU this week. Jett has been in the hospital since the 9th and was transferred to the ICU on December 15 after contracting RSV and then a secondary infection. He is currently on a non-invasive ventilator.
“We came to the hospital last Monday for a sore on his back that ended up being a rare skin infection, and while that has healed, he was also positive for RSV and now he’s fighting bacterial pneumonia,” his mom Mrs. Megan Kirk said.
Jett, who also has Down Syndrome and battles Cerebral Palsy, has overcome so many obstacles in life from the day he was born, Mrs. Kirk explains. December 15 should have marked a day of celebration, as the Kirks were celebrating Jett’s 2nd Adoption Day. It’s been two years since Jett was adopted and as you can tell by that big smile, he brings joy to everyone he meets.
“He can brighten anyone’s day with his smile,” Mrs. Kirk said. “His big brothers and little sister are his whole world. He loves music, cheering on his daddy’s team (the Mustangs), and spending warm days at the baseball field. He loves fiercely. His joy is contagious.”
Through all of this, Mrs. Kirk, wants to raise a red flag about how serious RSV can be, especially those like Jett with compromised immune systems.
“A lot of people think it’s just a bad cold, but really it’s life threatening to the special needs population,” Mrs. Kirk said, who wishes to highlight the importance of protecting the vulnerable population.
“It is a horrific RSV season. The nurses say this is the worst one yet,” Kirk added.
The community has shown the Kirks a great amount of love, with ongoing fundraisers, a meal train, and more.
“We are so grateful for our community that is all over Texas that has supported us both monetarily, through prayers, or helping with our other kiddos,” Mrs. Kirk said.
Here’s the meal train link: https://mealtrain.com/kd8k0r
While the family doesn’t know what the next five minutes will hold, they know that prayers are a powerful thing and they could sure use some right now.
HARTS presents children’s books to area groups
Pictured are HARTS Treasurer Maria Elizondo and Secretary Irene Dubberly; Representatives from Brown Santa: Frank Navarro, Sarah Bernal and Brianna Ramos; Eddie Gentry, CEO from the Bluebonnet Children’s Advocacy Center; HARTS Past President Jim Rigby; D’Hanis Elementary Principal Laurn Busse and Cindy Marroquin; Amy Edge, who is helping Von Ormy establish a new library; Walter Huegele, HARTS Book Project Co-Chair, and HARTS President Earline Schlortt.
The Huajilla Area Retired Teachers and Staff (HARTS) presented over 1,000 children’s books to five area groups that deal with children who can benefit from having their own books. The Children’s Book Project is one of TRTA’s focus projects, and HARTS members have provided books each year to the Medina County Sheriff’s Brown Santa, to the Hondo Police Department Blue Santa, to the Bluebonnet Children’s Advocacy Center, and this year added to the Von Ormy Library, and to D’Hanis Elementary School.
Lions help out MCSO’s Brown Santa program
Medina County Brown Santa was the recipient of a $300 donation from Devine Lions Club. Presenting the check to Frank Navarro and Cara Thomas are Lions Kellen Nixon and Lewis Stroud. MCSO and Sheriff Randy Brown have been hard at work again this year getting ready to deliver Santa’s presents to children all across Medina County.
Longview Cemetery Association Christmas Wreath Ceremony
Christmas Wreaths were placed on veterans graves by (L to R): Trisha Rivera, Henry Moreno, Denise Woody, David Knight, Keira Rivera, Alma Horvath, Larry Ricketts, Martha Knight, and Don Murphy. Photo by Andrew Rivera
On Saturday December 14th at 8:00 AM members of the Longview Cemetery Association , as well as several members of our community along with Alma Horvath of Devine (who furnishes our wreaths each year), placed Christmas wreaths on the graves of our veterans .This is our 10th year to hold this event. The wreath placement was done in conjunction with the WREATH ACROSS AMERICA program.
We are proud to honor our veterans who served and helped to protect and defend our country. We keep a flag posted at each veteran’s grave all year long as a way to say thank you for all they have done and to continue to honor them for many years to come.
We wish to thank all of those who attended today to help place the wreaths and especially Alma Horvath who furnishes the wreaths each year.